Bubba Wallace ended a hundred-race winless streak in the most dramatic way possible, outdueling a defending champion at the Brickyard and snapping a three-year drought. But as the NASCAR world buzzed about his long-awaited victory, it was a post-race social media exchange that stole some of the spotlight and left fans grinning.
Could a bit of good-natured trolling be Wallace’s secret weapon?
How Did Rajah Caruth’s Trolling Spark Bubba Wallace’s Breakthrough?
Just hours after Wallace captured his first Cup Series win since September 2022, his longtime mentee, Rajah Caruth, lit up Twitter. The 23-year-old Spire Motorsports driver quote-tweeted his own post from the night before, writing, “I guess i need to troll you more often 😂 @BubbaWallace.”
The tweet caught fire, sparking plenty of chatter across NASCAR’s social media circles. Fans were quick to dissect the playful back-and-forth, especially knowing it came right after Wallace’s history-making win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Wallace became the first Black driver to secure a major victory on the iconic 2.5-mile oval, making the timing of Caruth’s joke even sweeter.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Bubba Wallace becomes the first Black driver to win on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s oval, taking the Brickyard 400.
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 27, 2025
Wallace’s performance in the Brickyard 400 was pure theater. The 31-year-old held off defending champ Kyle Larson in a wild double overtime finish, crossing the line just 0.222 seconds ahead.
“Unbelievable,” Wallace shouted over his radio after he took the checkered flag. His win secured a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, ending a drought that stretched back to September 2022.
MORE: Denny Hamlin Joins Bubba Wallace in Beloved Indy Tradition After 23XI’s Game-Changing Breakthrough
Meanwhile, the race itself kept everyone guessing. Wallace led comfortably until rain delays with six laps to go, leading to two tension-filled overtime restarts. In those final moments, Wallace had to fend off Larson and keep a close eye on his fuel tank, adding even more pressure to an already wild finish.
What Makes the Wallace-Caruth Bond Special for NASCAR?
Beyond the on-track drama, Wallace and Caruth’s relationship stands out in the garage. Their bond runs deeper than a typical friendship. It is rooted in their shared experience with NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, which aims to open doors for underrepresented groups in motorsports.
Wallace, who has mentored Caruth since his earliest days in racing, has always taken a hands-on approach to his protégé’s development, offering technical pointers and life advice. As Wallace once explained, “I’ve been hard on him since Day 1. I will never forget the first time watching him in a Legends car at Charlotte, and I got in his face, ‘What are you so afraid of the wall for? You haven’t even hit it yet.'”
Caruth’s lighthearted jab, suggesting he needs to troll Wallace more often, shows just how comfortable these two have become. Their relationship has evolved into something brotherly, where gentle teasing and relentless encouragement mix naturally. In NASCAR’s tight-knit world, that unique dynamic might just provide the spark Wallace needed for his big breakthrough.